Photovoltaic cells

Abstract

An example of an apparatus to generate electricity from light with photovoltaic cells is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells. The plurality of photovoltaic cells is to form a module. Furthermore, the apparatus includes an electro-conductive backsheet to connect the plurality of photovoltaic cells. The electro-conductive backsheet is to collect current from the plurality of photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is formed on a silicon wafer by cutting along a { 100 } plane to provide a substantially square wafer and cleaving the substantially square wafer along a preferred cleavage plane.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic cells is to form a module; and   an electro-conductive backsheet to connect the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the electro-conductive backsheet is to collect current from the plurality of photovoltaic cells,   wherein each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is formed on a silicon wafer by:
 cutting along a { 100 } plane to provide a substantially square wafer; and 
 cleaving the substantially square wafer along a preferred cleavage plane to form each photovoltaic cell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 110 } plane. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 111 } plane. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electro-conductive backsheet is flexible. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the electro-conductive backsheet is a foil. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells is a back-contact cell. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rail, wherein the module is to be mounted on the rail. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the module is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . A photovoltaic cell comprising:
 a silicon wafer base;   a first edge cut along a first { 100 } plane of the silicon wafer base;   a second edge cut along a second { 100 } plane of the silicon wafer base; and   a third edge cleaved along a preferred cleavage plane of the silicon wafer base, wherein the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge to provide a shape to tessellate with additional photovoltaic cells to form a module.   
     
     
         11 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 10 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 110 } plane. 
     
     
         12 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 10 , wherein the preferred cleavage plane is a { 111 } plane. 
     
     
         13 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 10 , wherein the shape is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         14 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 13 , further comprising a via to connect a frontside of the silicon wafer base to a backside of the silicon wafer base. 
     
     
         15 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of back contacts to connect with an electro-conductive backsheet. 
     
     
         16 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of back contacts is to electrically connect with external back contacts of a second photovoltaic cell to provide a target power. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 forming a photovoltaic cell on a silicon wafer;   cutting the silicon wafer along a { 100 } plane to provide a substantially square wafer;   cleaving the substantially square wafer along a preferred cleavage plane to form photovoltaic cells to tessellate with additional photovoltaic cells to form a module; and   arranging a plurality of photovoltaic cells to form the module.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein cleaving along the preferred cleavage plane comprises cleaving along a { 110 } plane. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein cleaving along the preferred cleavage plane comprises cleaving along a { 111 } plane. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising connecting the plurality of photovoltaic cells with an electro-conductive backsheet. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)